Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-27
PEri1'S IIOSS.

waved long, lank arm toward the Tall,
blue bills; torrd which wound the vel
low mountain road. where tile shallow
stream. known as "Poltses Fork, cross
ed and recrossed like the unwinding of
giant SNAKE.
Mr.. Potts shook his head portentous-
ly, slroking his matted gray beard with
fingers yclowed and hardened by years
of unrelnlting toll.
WAL. J don reckin thars anything
fur EN- to take, iniU5 uve'btling's done
ben ct up by the boys that stopped
hyar last" Potts paused abruptly,
troubled by sudden thought; Toby
sided up 10 the old man. mut>ring al
most inaudiby:
."Pota'- hoss, pap! yer don think
they d take Rod rick, 10 YET"
They shnrn'tl nut il ! hcv Ter lose
every drap o my blood, they shnrh't
take tibet hossl' cried the Did man vche.
thentlgi
"Mebbe they cyarnt lind HIM. pap
-Roxy's Tux him ter the mountin'
gethcrin' sunlac. an ef she don't come
out too soon they'll never know noihln'
bout it, said Toby. rcassurnely.
The soldiers were nov in full sight,
their haynnuis sill ering in the sun,
their billie cGais Gafklni,,s ihe yellow
road and brighlenin- The Sombre pines,
and the thud OF their iravcl-worn feet
beat ike distant drum.
. 4 clouds of dust rise ND at their app
pro-. ching 100, sieps staying girlish
fof N is coming down the mountain;
singing an OF sweet llymn of freedom;
in her arifis ire 6faithes If sumac turns
ing blown, ami yellow, and atIGt in
the mellow autumn sun; at her side 4
slender dark bay horse. sleek and
glossy as the pride of an Arabs heart,
follows closely. unresisting the bride
swung carcleSsly over her wrist Ioby's
heart jumps in his throat and all the
color fades from his fae, leaving it
quite white, save tic inh-c0luted frocks
les tina, cover his thin checks.
The father and Soa waive their hands
in unirtsliigiblt s'grs Ro&y looks and
listens, and, siildch.J i,,ideiNa1Iiue;
springs. back into The neighboring
thicket. Too late! one OF the blue coats
espies her and leaps nimbly after her.
Roxy is crouching close in the shad-
ow of bending pinc-trec and Roder-
ick's eyes shine like stars behind his
green prison. "A line horse and II finer
girl!'' shouts the soldier. % grasping
Hoxys pltimp arm.
''t;et MIC go" she screams; 'let me
81, ] say
The Others, laughing and shouting,
scramble up the rocky bank, eager for
an adventure. They have pulled the
reluctant girl from her hiding- place,
and one boldly seizes 10 lericI's bride.
The brave horse plants his delicate
hoofs in the mans chest and sends HIM
tulling down The hill, OILERS fish 81
him, and, painting with rage aud fright,
be tries in vain to dash past them, but
they are too many for him. and Willie
eoire, more cowardlF than tile rest, look
from behind the tteJs 1T this sttaug5
battle, others surround him on all sides,
and he stands trembling with excite
ment and pain as they fasten the bit
firmly on bis sensitive mouth.
Soldiers, you darn't take the hoss?'
cries Abraham Potts, culver OF en-.
treaty in his voice. ID
THAT war my Pete's hoss-he raised
him from ,ecolt and never lowed no.
body to tech him bit hisselfi O, no.
soldiers, take anything I've got but
don't tech tnatahoss!''
IF he's Peters horse let him take
care of him now" laughed the soldier,
carelesslyi rs lie tightens his grip on
the bridlt, @
Roxy had thrown one arm round the
fathers bent form, and stood shelter
sing him, as it were, from the jeers Of
the Federals. q Now Abe Potts bent for
ward, drawing himself away from his
daughters clinging grasp.
''Pete's done dead. men" iiitttered
the old tnan in hoarse, choked voice,
"he's layin' now back thar benin the
house, with the weepin' willer he plant
ed a-shadin' his grave. Rod'rick thar
brung i'm home ter diep' Tie gasped
brokenly. Soldiers, he wuz all he'd
My Pete--so brave, and SIGH fine fig
ger; when he rid away with the Var
ginny Grays. my heart swelled till it
wuz nigh Dustin; but gin him to my
country, an thet's all tibet is left o. him
tibet there hoss.n Old Potts sighed,
then went on with an effort
.'One evenin' we hyard bosses hoofs,
an we knowed it war Rod rick-he cum
in Their night-an' when / he'll out the
light 10 make shore twas him / never
seed nothin' at fust but Rod rick. his
eyes a-shinin' like Goals of fire Purity
soon / seed somethin' tied across his
back-it wor my Petel 0. soldiers you
sent my boy back home to die with
bullet through his breastr' and the old
man threw out his arms wildly; then
turned and hid his face on Roxy's
shoulder.
Not man but felt that simple story
touch his heart. and Toby's big brown
eyes were wet with unshed tears
The boy was clinging close 70 his
father now.
Say, pap, amt yer done got meP"
he whispered, wistfully.
NO. don't want yer" cried the faith
er, bitterly. They've tux my Pete, an
what air you in his placer? So the
child shrank. trembling and repulsed,
down by the bundle of whitening sumac.
The soldiers were going away quietly,
leaving the old man in peace. when
afar up the mountain road they discern
ed men in gray Fastening in their d.
rection.
Boys" cried one rs he spraDg on
Roderick's back. ''wc might as well
have this horse as those 'Rebsr Old
EpaIL you'll hare TO lose .yourih orse angy